Classification of Devotees

(1 & 2)

When a devotee meets the Guru, his heart radiates with emotion. In close association with the Guru, his spiritual emotion (towards the Guru) slowly evolves in three levels. At the first stage, the devotee feels as if Shri Guru is like ‘Kalpataru’ (the celestial wish fulfilling tree). Such a tree is laden with fruits and flowers. It also provides the shadow of ‘compassion’.

(3 & 4) [Level 1]

In the first meeting with Guru, the devotee is not able to understand him. He takes him (merely) to be a ‘Sadhu’ (a saintly person) not being aware of his divine qualities. Unless the grace of Shri Guru dawns, who can comprehend him? Till such a time arrives, the curtain of ‘Maya’ (illusion) continues and time passes away.

(5 & 6) [Level 2]

However, if the devotee patiently stands firm in his faith and devotion , the illusion of ‘Maya’ gradually disappears and he starts receiving some knowledge. Slowly, when his devotion becomes stronger, their relationship also becomes more intimate. Now that he enters into the second stage of their relationship, he realizes the divine aspects of the Guru.

(7 & 8) [Level 3]

At this stage, he starts comparing Shri Guru with God . However he thinks that the Guru is like God, but not God. He also thinks that to earn ‘Punya’ (piety) and ‘Dharma’ (virtue), Shri Guru is the best medium and that ‘Shri Hari’ (God) is the source.

Page 86, Shri Guru Bhagavat, Vol. 1 by Dr. C B Satpathy